By Hotel Serena - Alta Badia

The sublime architecture of the Dolomites
Nature’s masterpiece included in the list of UNESCO world heritage sites

Peaks, spires and rocky towers as far as the eye can see – the mystic atmosphere leaves speechless and takes your breath away. These are the Dolomites, the mighty mountains born in the prehistoric Tethys ocean that shaped their silhouettes in such a bizarre and outstanding way, that in 2009 they were declared a UNESCO world natural heritage site. Nowadays the Dolomites represent an enormous territory of 142 thousand hectares, composed of 9 mountain systems. Alta Badia is nestled between the system of Puez-Odle with its vast nature park and the system of Dolomiti Settentrionali, with the fantastic landscapes of the Nature Park Fanes-Senes-Braies. This will certainly make your holiday in Alta Badia full of high mountain adventures and breath-taking views.

A holiday in Alta Badia is always full of unique moments and strong emotions. Admiring the sunset playing with the fiery colours of Enrosadira among the peaks of the Dolomites. Exploring the mighty Puez-Odle massif or the legendary kingdom of Fanes with its furrowed fields, grottos and other karst traces. Following in the tracks of ancient sagas that reveal, in a fancy and naïve way, the wonders of the nature. There are lots of incredible adventures waiting for you in the Dolomites of Alta Badia and of the neighbouring valleys, such as Val Gardena, Val di Fassa, the Valley of Ampezzo (Val d'Ampezzo), the Valley of Livinallongo/Fodom and the Puster Valley (Val Pusteria).

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The culture of the Badia Valley
Essential past and dynamic present

In a journey across the Val Badia not only landscapes arouse outstanding emotions. In the folds of the mountains lie hidden the picturesque traces of the extraordinary Ladin culture, the places of authentic spirituality with their rustic but moving charm. The Raeti and the Celts, the Roman troops and the Habsburg Monarchy – all of them contributed to the formation of the inimitable culture and of the unique language of the five valleys around the Sella Group (Alta Badia is one of them), that due to their natural isolation, created the territory called Ladinia. Nowadays this extraordinary land has turned into a popular tourist destination, preserving though the signs of its past as precious cultural heritage. Thus, Ladin is now the third official language of South Tyrol (together with Italian and German) and the cultural life of the Ladin valleys is always full of picturesque processions, artisans' markets, traditional feasts and festivals, that will add a very particular touch to your vacation.

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The most interesting museums in Alta Badia and its surroundings
“Treasuries” that are worth visiting

The museums of the Badia Valley aren't just an idea for down days, but a real depository of various peculiarities. The nearest one to Badia is the Ladin Museum Ursus Ladinicus in San Cassiano, dedicated mostly to the local geology, while the main ethnographic museum is Ciastel de Tor in San Martino. It's here that you can satisfy your curiosity regarding the Ladin culture, history and identity. For further information concerning the Tyrolean past, head towards Teodone/Dietenheim in the nearby Puster Valley, where you will find a very interesting South Tyrolean Folklore Museum with a large open-air exhibition, representing the traditional rural life of the past times. An unmissable destination for those who are fond of sports is the brand-new Messner Mountain Museum on top of Kronplatz with a focus on alpinism. And those who are fascinated by the Alpine nature will appreciate the Nature Park House Fanes-Senes-Braies (Fanes-Sennes-Prags) in San Vigilio di Marebbe.

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The legends
Myths and tales of the Dolomites

There are many tales about the Ganes and Salvans. La Gana is a mythological figure of the Dolomites legends. They were primitive people who spent the summer in the woods and nourished with whatever they could find in the nature and covered themselves in wild animal's skins. They were very friendly and would never harm anyone. They only came down to the village during the winter time to find some warmth and food. Once upon a time a farmer fell in love with a very beautiful Gana who came down often to the village and eventually learned the language of the village. One day as she came down to the village, one of the farmers asked her if she would marry him, she accepted but under one condition that he will never touch her face with the back of his hand, otherwise she has to leave him for ever. He accepted the condition. Everything went well till one day she felt something is touching her forehead. She asked her husband to see what is on her forehead. Her husband wiped her forehead and unconsiscly he touched her face with the back of his hand. She started crying and shortly after she disappeared. (Janbatista Alton, Proverbi, traduzioni ed anoeddoti delle valli ladine orientali, con versione italiana, Wagner Universitätsverlag, Innsbruck 1881,p 65-67)

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Sant Ujöp da Oies
Saint Giuseppe Freinademetz

Saint Giuseppe Freinademetz was born in Dolomite Alps, on April 15 in Oies1852 a small community in Alta Badia but he lived for many years in China and finally died on the 28th of January in 1908. He deeply loved chines people and once he wrote to his family that "I love China and the Chinese. I want to die among them and be laid to rest among them." His birth house is belongs to more than 250 years ago and is characterised by a simple style and is open to visitors all year round.